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| Tributes after boy's river death | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Tributes have been paid to a nine-year-old boy who died while snorkelling in a river with his father and two brothers. | Tributes have been paid to a nine-year-old boy who died while snorkelling in a river with his father and two brothers. |
| An inquest heard Jordan Baker's death was consistent with drowning. He went missing in the River Dee near his home in Connah's Quay, Flintshire. | |
| Keen rugby player Jordan was called a "popular and very caring boy" by his head teacher after his death on Sunday. | |
| Flintshire Council answered criticism about signs to say there were several warning about deep water and mud. | |
| Underwater teams and a rescue helicopter were involved in locating Jordan, who was pronounced dead. Coastguards spoke of the dangers of swimming in cold water. | |
| The provisional cause of death, drowning, was given at an inquest opened in Wrexham by acting North East Wales coroner John Gittins. | The provisional cause of death, drowning, was given at an inquest opened in Wrexham by acting North East Wales coroner John Gittins. |
| After being given details of a post mortem examination and hearing evidence of identification from a police officer, he adjourned the hearing to a date to be fixed. | After being given details of a post mortem examination and hearing evidence of identification from a police officer, he adjourned the hearing to a date to be fixed. |
| The river current was running in the direction of Chester at the time | The river current was running in the direction of Chester at the time |
| He was a pupil at Bryn Deva School, Deeside, where special services were held on Monday. | He was a pupil at Bryn Deva School, Deeside, where special services were held on Monday. |
| Head teacher Sandra McAllister described him as a "popular and very caring boy and a promising rugby player". | Head teacher Sandra McAllister described him as a "popular and very caring boy and a promising rugby player". |
| She added: "He will be greatly missed by all his friend and staff at the school. Our thoughts are with Jordan's family at this sad and distressing time." | She added: "He will be greatly missed by all his friend and staff at the school. Our thoughts are with Jordan's family at this sad and distressing time." |
| Shotton Steel RFC said Jordan was a promising future talent. | Shotton Steel RFC said Jordan was a promising future talent. |
| In a statement, the club said: "He was a player at Shotton Steel RFC minis that all coaches were proud of and they loved coaching him because of his amazing aptitude and attitude at training. | In a statement, the club said: "He was a player at Shotton Steel RFC minis that all coaches were proud of and they loved coaching him because of his amazing aptitude and attitude at training. |
| "He was looked up to not only by his younger brother Lewis but other younger players at the club also." | "He was looked up to not only by his younger brother Lewis but other younger players at the club also." |
| The coroner's office said an inquest may be opened later on Monday. | The coroner's office said an inquest may be opened later on Monday. |
| Paul Parkes - the duty watch manager at Liverpool Coastguard who co-ordinated the search - said they were initially alerted to three people in difficulties in the water, off Dock Road, but when rescuers arrived there were two boys on the bank of the river. | Paul Parkes - the duty watch manager at Liverpool Coastguard who co-ordinated the search - said they were initially alerted to three people in difficulties in the water, off Dock Road, but when rescuers arrived there were two boys on the bank of the river. |
| "At that time one boy was still missing and hadn't been seen since he disappeared under the water," he said. | "At that time one boy was still missing and hadn't been seen since he disappeared under the water," he said. |
| The river current was running in the direction of Chester at the time Jordan disappeared, at 1500 BST. | The river current was running in the direction of Chester at the time Jordan disappeared, at 1500 BST. |
| There was a possibility that it had taken the child that way, Mr Parkes explained. | There was a possibility that it had taken the child that way, Mr Parkes explained. |
| Nicholas Brown, from Connah's Quay, was out for a Sunday afternoon walk with his wife when he jumped into the river after seeing a child in difficulty shortly before the emergency services arrived. | Nicholas Brown, from Connah's Quay, was out for a Sunday afternoon walk with his wife when he jumped into the river after seeing a child in difficulty shortly before the emergency services arrived. |
| He described how he swam out and grabbed one boy struggling in the river, but was too exhausted to swim back out again. | He described how he swam out and grabbed one boy struggling in the river, but was too exhausted to swim back out again. |
| 'Treacherous' | 'Treacherous' |
| "I just sat on the edge of a grass verge and my wife said: 'It doesn't look right this. These little children are screaming for help'. | "I just sat on the edge of a grass verge and my wife said: 'It doesn't look right this. These little children are screaming for help'. |
| "So I [ran] down the beach, had a look and I could see them bobbing in and out of the water, so I shouted over: 'Do you need help?' and the little boy screamed 'Please'. | "So I [ran] down the beach, had a look and I could see them bobbing in and out of the water, so I shouted over: 'Do you need help?' and the little boy screamed 'Please'. |
| "I just took my trainers and shorts off, jumped in, swum across [and] started struggling with the current myself but managed to get hold of one of the children, made it back to the bank, watched the other young lad actually disappear, went to try to go back in but just had no strength," he said. | "I just took my trainers and shorts off, jumped in, swum across [and] started struggling with the current myself but managed to get hold of one of the children, made it back to the bank, watched the other young lad actually disappear, went to try to go back in but just had no strength," he said. |
| Nicholas Brown jumped into the river after seeing a child in difficulty and said the current was very strong | Nicholas Brown jumped into the river after seeing a child in difficulty and said the current was very strong |
| "The current had took it out of me and I couldn't do no more." | "The current had took it out of me and I couldn't do no more." |
| Mr Brown said he also saw a man in the water - believed to be the boys' father - being rescued by another man. | Mr Brown said he also saw a man in the water - believed to be the boys' father - being rescued by another man. |
| A second child was also pulled from the water. | A second child was also pulled from the water. |
| Councillor Aaron Shotton, who represents the area where the boy lived, and knows his family, said: "This is a terrible tragedy and people here are in shock. | Councillor Aaron Shotton, who represents the area where the boy lived, and knows his family, said: "This is a terrible tragedy and people here are in shock. |
| "It raises the issue of whether there were adequate warning signs in the area and who is responsible for them. I didn't see any signs and I will be taking this matter up with Flintshire County Council and the Environment Agency." | "It raises the issue of whether there were adequate warning signs in the area and who is responsible for them. I didn't see any signs and I will be taking this matter up with Flintshire County Council and the Environment Agency." |
| Mr Shotton said the tragedy highlighted the dangers of what he called a "very dangerous river". | Mr Shotton said the tragedy highlighted the dangers of what he called a "very dangerous river". |
| He added: "Local people have always known the dangers. There were a lot of drownings in the 1950s and 60s and that's why Connah's Quay baths was built - to keep people away from the river." | He added: "Local people have always known the dangers. There were a lot of drownings in the 1950s and 60s and that's why Connah's Quay baths was built - to keep people away from the river." |
| Responding to Cllr Shotton's comments about signage, a Flintshire Council spokesman said: "There are about seven signs in the dock area warning of deep water. | |
| "Further along, near the car park and the water ski club there are signs warning of deep mud." | |
| The RNLI, fire service, ambulance, the north west regional underwater research team and an RAF rescue helicopter from Valley on Anglesey, took part in the rescue operation. | The RNLI, fire service, ambulance, the north west regional underwater research team and an RAF rescue helicopter from Valley on Anglesey, took part in the rescue operation. |
| Mr Parkes described the River Dee as "treacherous" and said the river's current can run very fast. | Mr Parkes described the River Dee as "treacherous" and said the river's current can run very fast. |
| "Water is very cold even at this time of the year and it will catch you out," he said. | "Water is very cold even at this time of the year and it will catch you out," he said. |
| "It's very sad for all of us who were involved in the operation, it's a tragedy." | "It's very sad for all of us who were involved in the operation, it's a tragedy." |